U.S. 250 in Fitchville to close in October for bridge work

Area motorists beware, U.S. 250 at Ohio 162 will close in October — possibly for a year.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has awarded a contract to BECDIR Construction Company from Berlin Center for a total bridge replacement at that location.

According to project plans, the road is expected to close at U.S. 250 and Ohio 162 about Oct. 7.

Motorists still will be able to take Ohio 13 at that intersection, but will not have access to U.S. 250 or Ohio 162.

Traffic will be detoured to Ohio 13, U.S. 224 and back to U.S. 250.

The project plans also indicate the work should be completed by May 5, but Christine Myers, public information officer for ODOT District 3, said Wednesday the contract actually extends through October 2014.

“All these dates are estimates,” Myers stressed.

The ODOT spokeswoman described the project.

“The bridge there is structurally deficient. … It’s old,” Myers said.

“It needs a total replacement and updated to current design standards,” she added.

The bridge was originally built in 1928 and then rehabilitated in 1978.

The price tag of the replacement project is $2.6 million.

“The level of the new bridge will actually be raised,” Myers said. “There will no longer be that dip in the road. It will be much safer and again, brought up to today’s standards.”